History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)
The Director had no sooner arrived in New Netherland, than he proceeded against the Patroons pursuant to the orders given him.
86 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. Whereupon the Patroons were under the necessity of submitting their grievances to
the Assembly of the XIX., and it was mutually agreed to refer all differences arising therefrom, to their High Mightinesses' decision. The Patroons have accordingly handed in, at the request of the committee of the Directors, the following points of their pretensions and well founded claim.
Pretension and Claim of the Patroons of New Netherland, delivered to their High Mightinesses' Deputies on the IG"" June, 1634, against the Directors the Incorporated West India Company.
1.
That the Freedoms and Exemptions promised and granted to the Patroons and their people within the limits of New Netherland and the dependencies thereof, must be truly maintained and observed by the Incorporated West India Company, according to their tenor and contents; and are to be holden as a mutual contract, binding on both sides, whereby the Patroons were invited to send their people and goods thither; in consequence whereof, they claim to enjoy inviolate, the privileges contained therein.
That the Company having up to the 19"^ December, 1633, repeatedly called in question the conceded Freedoms, are bound to make good the manifest damages caused thereby to
the Patroons.
3.
That in the Exemptions and Freedoms, mention only was made of the property of those lands of which the Company could, by virtue of its charter, dispose; and such extension is considered as referring alone to the fertile and uninhabited lands, or lands on which settlements were found of particular Indians, having no chief, whom the Patroons were bound to satisfy for the soil : In addition to these, within the limits and extensions of the purchased patroonships, exist Lordships having their own rights and jurisdictions, which the chiefs of said nations have ceded to the Patroons, exclusive of the proprietorship of the soil, as can be seen by their deeds of concession and conveyance.